Annual Ron Parker Memorial Ceremony to be held today

On a mostly gloomy day, the clouds began to part by 4 p.m. just on time for the start of the New Year's Eve Beach Blast Off 2010 celebration at the pier. The event drew hundreds to the afternoon festivities which featured a chili cookoff, ice sculpting, refreshments, kids' games and entertainment.

Seven local restaurants participated in the Chili Cook Off and by 7:30 p.m., all of the chili was gone. It was a toss of the coin that determined the first-place chili winner.

Celebrity judges Sheriff David Shoar, County Commissioner Ken Bryan, COA executive director Cathy Brown, St. Augustine Beach Civic Association president Bob Samuels, and St. Augustine Beach Mayor Frank Charles did a blind taste and scored each entry in five categories.

After the judges' vote, there was a tie between Mango Mango's and Sunset Grille for first place. To break the tie, Charles tossed a coin and Mango Mango's was awarded the first place trophy and plaque. To keep peace on the island, it was decided to award another first place plaque to Sunset Grille. Third place went to Iggies on State Road A1A.

Mango Mango's also walked away with the People's Choice Award which was determined by the public.

The evening fireworks drew an even bigger crowd as motorists arrived on the beach. A spectacular fireworks display started at 8:30 p.m. and lasted half an hour.

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The annual Ron Parker Memorial Ceremony will be held at 11 a.m. today at Ron Parker Park. This year marks the 35th anniversary of Parker's death. The county has provided a live oak tree and coquina plaque to mark the occasion.

Parker, who was a St. Augustine Beach policeman, was killed in the line of duty on Jan. 12, 1975. The park, located on Pope Road, was named after the fallen officer. The public is invited to the ceremony.

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St. Augustine Beach Civic Association will meet today at 7 p.m. at St. Augustine Beach City Hall, 2200 A1A South. Following a brief business meeting, Billy Zeits, beach management director for St. Johns County, will present a program on year-round beach activities and services, including an update on plans for the 2010 summer season. The public is invited to attend.

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If you need something from the Anastasia Island Branch Library, better get there by Friday. In conjunction with the county's fiscal belt tightening, library employees will take their first of five furlough days in fiscal year 2010 Saturday, and because the island library is normally closed on Sunday and Monday, it will not reopen until Jan. 19.

Prior to the closing, however, there are programs for all ages, including:

* Toddler Storytime on Wednesdays at 10:30 a.m. and Family Storytime on Wednesdays at 11:30 a.m.

* The 1938 film "You Can't Take it With You" will be shown at 5:30 p.m. Thursday.

The library is at 124 Sea Grove Main St., off S.R. A1A South and A Street. For information, call 209-3730.

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The Evenings at Whitney free public lecture series resumes Thursday with a real thriller featuring a program by marine scientist Ellen Prager on chasing science at sea. Prager, chief scientist for the Aquarius Reef Base Program in Key Largo, will share her challenges and triumphs of working in the most extreme environment on earth, the ocean. Those experiences will include racing hurricanes, stalking sharks and living undersea with ocean experts. The lecture begins at 7 p.m. in the Center for Marine Studies, located in the University of Florida Whitney Lab in the town of Marineland. Call 461-4000 or go to www.whitney.ufl.edu for information.

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A 40-hour course, the Coastal Module of the Florida Master Naturalist program, will be offered by Ripple Effect Ecotours in partnership with Whitney Lab starting Feb. 8. Classes, indoors and outdoors, will be held every Monday and Friday from 9 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. with graduation on Feb. 26. The program includes classroom instruction, field trips and practical interpretive experience related to the general ecology, habitats, vegetation types, wildlife and conservation issues of coastal areas in Florida. It is targeted mainly for volunteers and staff members of nature centers, preserves, sanctuaries, and other environmental education facilities. The cost is $225, which includes all fieldtrips and instructional material. Call 347-1565 or go to http://masternaturalist.org.

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If it takes place on Anastasia Island or the adjoining areas, send information about people and events to STAUGBEACHWATCH@aol.com or call 471-4851.

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Tickets go on sale Saturday for Torchlight Tours to take place on Jan. 30 at Fort Matanzas National Monument. Tours will depart the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center at 6 p.m., 6:45 p.m., 7:30 p.m., and 8:15 p.m. Re-enactors portraying Spanish soldiers of the 1740s will be on duty at the fort, and each tour will include cannon firing.

Advance ticket purchase is required for this and a Torchlight Tour on Feb. 27. Tickets are available at the Fort Matanzas Visitor Center for $7 each. Children 3 and under are free. Tickets for the Feb. 27 tours will go on sale Feb. 13.

Fort Matanzas National Monument is located at 8635 S.R. A1A South. For information call 471-0116.

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GOT NEWS? If it takes place on Anastasia Island or the adjoining areas you can send your information about people and events to STAUGBEACHWATCH@aol.com, or call 471-4851.